Nat’l Martyred Army Day today

Staff Reporter :

National Martyred Army Day will be observed on Wednesday, with the nation paying tribute to the victims of the 2009 Pilkhana massacre.

On the eve of the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued a message praying for the eternal peace of the martyrs and expressing deep sympathy and solidarity with their bereaved families.

He recalled that on February 25, 2009, a brutal attack took place at the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now known as the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), headquarters in Pilkhana. A total of 74 people were killed in the carnage, including 57 army officers.

The prime minister noted that the day was not observed with due importance in the years following 2009.

However, since 2024, after what he described as the country’s liberation from fascism, February 25 has been officially observed as “Martyred Army Day.”

Mentioning that the trial over the Pilkhana killings is still ongoing, he said the matter remains sub-judice and therefore detailed comments are not appropriate.

Nevertheless, he added that, as a citizen, he believes the massacre involved activities aimed at undermining the country’s independence and sovereignty.

He also alleged that attempts were made to mislead the public with falsehoods and misinformation following the incident.

According to Tarique Rahman, people in a fascism-free Bangladesh now better understand the underlying causes of the Pilkhana tragedy.

Describing the armed forces as a symbol of the nation’s honor, bravery and pride, he called for unity against any conspiracy targeting the military.

“On Martyred Army Day, let us pledge that no one will ever again be allowed to conspire against our armed forces.

We must stand united against any plot that goes against the interests of the country and its people,” he said.